Posts Tagged ‘employee engagement’

I’ve just come across this article by Lin Grensing-Pophal on SHRM’s website about HR job seekers and what they need to do to ‘step up their game’ in today’s environment.

I think one reason the contemporary job market is so intimidating is due to the increased numbers of diverse and experienced candidates competing for the open positions. It’s easy to develop a “Why bother?” attitude after all your hard work revising your résumé, job searching, and applying and interviewing for positions fails to reap any rewards.

But don’t give up just yet. It’s possible the problem might be you don’t know what the company is looking for.

The article makes it quite clear that the HR field has been subject to changes over the recent years, notably leaning more and more in a business focused direction. Here’s where any business or customer service related experience would come in handy. Even the smallest connection could make a world of difference, if you can make it.

If you really don’t have any related experience, fear not, there may be hope for you yet.

The ability to create employee engagement and to manage change effectively are two additional skills that successful HR job seekers must have…

Maybe you have the ability to inspire and connect well with your fellow employees. (Here’s where your references would come in handy.) Perhaps you are extremely adaptable and flexible with the examples to prove it. Great! But is it enough? The author notes that these skills have transformed along with the HR field.

Creating employee engagement seems to have expanded to focus more closely on innovative approaches when it comes to increasing moral, productivity, and the business’ marketability. This, in turn, is where adaptability will come in handy, except now HR professionals will be responsible not only for their own transition, but aiding others through the passage as well. My advice? Do your best to highlight any leadership experience you’ve had, especially if it involves improving processes in the workplace. Also, if you can show how you would be capable of going through significant change, or have helped others during theirs, you might just get the step ahead you need.

Of course we can’t talk about the changing times if we don’t mention the biggest factor of them all: technology. Tracy McCarthy, senior vice president of HR at SilkRoad Technology in Chicago, is quoted in the article, reminding us that social media can put us job seekers ahead of the game (if we utilize the resources available), or put us at a disadvantage (if we don’t). It also had to be mentioned that we need to be bold and reach out to anyone who we might think can help us, and even if we think they can’t. That was a major step for me to take, as well. But what’s the worst that could happen? Nothing could happen. The best? You get a job.

The reason I wanted to share this article is because it gave me hope and confidence. I know I am capable of what companies are looking for, and with a clearer idea in mind, I am able to once again reevaluate my experiences and strengths to better showcase to my future employer what I would be contributing to the company and work environment to ensurethe right fit. If you have a more specific HR path

Image via Wikipedia

in mind, I would suggest researching anything you can to prepare yourself for your future role, no matter how far in the future you might obtain it. I wish I had started sooner than I did. Once you have an idea of what skills are needed, you can get to work developing those skills or even focusing on building ones you may not have yet.

Your pertinent skills and dedication to the HR field are what might get you that job you’ve been looking for.